Kerr Smith Lives The Unexpected Life

Admit it. You watched 'Dawson's Creek' back in the day. And you loved every moment Kerr Smith was on screen. You saw him in all three dimensions in 'My Bloody Valentine 3D'. And now you're going to see in in a brand new role: Dad. Sort of. 'Life Unexpected' is premiering tonight on the CW, and Smith plays radio host Ryan Thomas. He proposes to his commitment-shy girlfriend (Shiri Appleby) and co-host right before she is confronted with the daughter she gave up for adoption (Brittany Robertson) at eighteen. Timing kind of sucks, right?

We just spoke to Smith about the new show, playing the 'Sex Marry Kill' game, and how this role won't be relegated to the third wheel category. We also found out that he's a World of Warcraft player. Is it just me or does that just make him hotter?

The show is being described as the new 'Gilmore Girls'. Can you tell us about the premise?

"Well, the premise is a fifteen-year-old girl that has been in the foster care system her entire life...seeks out her biological parents to get out of the that foster care system when she turns sixteen and the show is about two people that really have no business raising a fifteen-year-old girl. They're young themselves, thirty-two, and it's about the chaos that ensues in that whole situation. A young girl in their lives, two people who haven't seen each other since high school and don't really care for each other, who are kind of stuck raising this child together."

So, you're playing a radio host. The opening scene is really funny, with you and Shiri Appleby playing the "Sex Marry Kill" game. Did you ever play that?

"No, I've never played that. [laughs] I felt bad about saying that about [Jessica] Simpson. I know her, but, [laughs] oh well. What can you do?"

Wait, you know her? Did you tell her you were going to be doing that?

"I don't know her well enough to call her up on the phone, but we've met a few times."

In the third episode you have a really lovely moment with Lux. I'm wondering what parenting skills your character is going to bring to the table.

"Well, I'm going to be with Lux, the voice of reason. I mean, I thought it was really... Liz (Tigelaar-executive producer/writer) and I talked about this at the beginning of the season, and I thought it was really imperative that Ryan and Lux be able to share something that she doesn't share with her biological parents. You know, we need to have that connection, otherwise it's just a two dimensional relationship. And we decided is that, what that is, is that we're both in the same boat. We're both waiting for Cate to come around and to get her act together. To be able to pull this off, because Lux and I are ready. We're ready to do it. There are probably about a half a dozen scenes that Brit and I have over the season where it's just the two of us and it's a heart to heart and they're always great scenes. I really like that relationship. I can't wait until we get to explore it a little bit more in depth than we have."

Traditionally a show like this would be setting you up as a third wheel to be kicked out. But from what I saw, it doesn't seem like it's going to take the traditional path with the story. Was that something that you thought about?

"When I first signed on the project, Ryan was very much that character. Before I signed on, he was that character. And I just wasn't going to do that. I wasn't going to sign on to a project where I could be gone in a year. It was just too good of a script and the characters were just very well thought out. Liz and I talked about it. She's said in other interviews that she'd changed what the show really is to include Ryan in all that. So no, Ryan is not going anywhere. He's going to be very much a part of Lux' life and Cate's life and even Baze's life, in a weird sort of way. "

You're always playing characters that are a lot younger than you are. So being put into a parental role...how does that feel?
"Yeah, you're right. It's a little different for me. It's the second or third dad role I've played. But yeah, I look a lot younger than I am. I always tend to play younger. But I guess my character is thirty-two, thirty-three, somewhere in there. It's a little odd, being a dad, but I'll take it. [laughs]"

So, I read that you're a big computer game fan. What are you playing these days?

"Yeah. [laughs] In the past I've been pretty bad, but I've toned it down recently. I don't play much anymore because my schedule doesn't permit it. But in the past...when you're an actor you have off four or five months at a time, so you've got to find something to keep you busy. So it's been 'World of Warcraft' that's kept me busy in my off time.'

I totally understand. I'm a level 64 Human Paladin.

"Really? I've got a level 80 Mage, a level 56 Priest and we are officially geeks! Oh and a 74 Death Knight. [laughs]"